My Story: From Worst To Best

I started T’ai Chi Chih about three years ago for my balance. I must have been the worst student ever. I had trouble with balance, left-right orientation, knowing where my hands were, lifting my body – to name a few things. But with persistence (I kept coming back), lots of constructive critique, a sense of humor and lots of practice, I got to be pretty good. And my balance is much better. But I gained a lot more than that.

I have lifted weights, figure-skated, biked and used aerobic exercise machines for many years. I have stretched before and after exercising. But these things didn’t prepare me for my loss of balance and the frustration accompanying the loss of activities. Nor did they help with TCC. I am a Type A personality and I only knew one speed: fast. But when several friends recommended TCC I decided to give it a try.

I attended lessons offered by the YMCA Shoreview and taught by Judy George. A lot of students were crammed into a small room. I took a cautious spot in the back and was ready to give it a whirl. I couldn’t really see the instructor but I listened and tried to follow along. Put the left foot forward. Okay, I thought, this is a stretching warm-up. Shift the body weight forward and then back. My left foot was so far ahead of my right foot that there was no way I could keep my balance. So I lost it repeatedly. But somehow I always smiled as I stumbled. I tried but failed with many of the first five movements. I was equally miserable with the next session’s movements.

But the smile on my face made me come back. I think Judy was as surprised as I that I returned. This time I took a spot in the front of the class. I wasn’t much better but at least I knew what I couldn’t do. So Mr. Persistent kept coming back. I still had a long way to go. After class, Judy helped me understand Perpetual Motion, Passing Clouds and others. I didn’t know how to shift my weight from side-to-side (or front-to-back). I didn’t know what my arms and hands were supposed to do, but there was always a smile on my face as I screwed up and I got better with practice. I used a DVD and websites to practice by myself. Finally, I got the nerve to try a practice on my own. It confirmed what I already knew: I was pathetic.

But I kept coming back to class; each time I picked up a little more. As the years passed I got better and better. My balance got better and better. I learned a new speed: slow. I didn’t realize how much “slow” would relax and calm me. It made a big difference in my life. Now when someone calls me slow I thank them for the compliment.

I am far from perfect but I’m no longer the worst. With Judy’s tutelage I’ve come a long way. Now when new students are having trouble, Judy says, “If you can’t see me, follow Dave.” Imagine that.